Short Overview

This guide sets out best practice for emergency release systems (ERS) for liquefied gases, vapour return and high-pressure gas systems. It covers the design, risk assessment, operation, maintenance and competence associated with ERS, with applications including LNG, LPG, ammonia and CO₂.

This title supersedes LNG Emergency Release Systems (2017), which is listed as a relevant publication in IMO FAL.6/Circ.14/Rev.3 - 'List of Publications relevant to the ship/port Interface'.

Detailed Overview

Developed with the input of manufacturers, terminal operators and LNG shippers, this publication takes a risk-based approach to emergency release systems (ERS), covering their design, risk assessment and operation. It provides guidelines and best practices for ERS associated with liquefied gases, vapour return and high-pressure gas systems, including applications for LNG, LPG, ammonia and CO₂.

This publication updates and replaces SIGTTO’s ‘LNG Emergency Release Systems - Recommendations, Guidelines and Best Practices’, covering additional products and services, including high-pressure gases, and additional assets such as LNG FPSOs, FSRUs and FSUs. It also includes guidance on maintenance and competence.

Contents Listing

Introduction and Scope
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Scope
2 Overview of Cargo Transfer Equipment
2.1 Transfer System Equipment
2.2 Operating Envelopes
3 Overview of Emergency Release Systems
3.1 Functional Description
3.2 Subsystems and Components
3.3 Construction Types
4 Specification
4.1 Regulations, Codes and Standards
4.2 Design Integrity
4.3 Actuation System
4.4 Suggested Minimum Information on the Specification Data Sheet
5 Design
5.1 General Engineering
5.2 Actuation System
5.3 Controls and Instrumentation
5.4 Integrity Assessment
5.5 Suggested Spurious Failure Modes
5.6 Suggested Minimum Information on the Manufacturer’s Data Sheet
6 Fabrication and Installation
6.1 Fabrication
6.2 Factory Acceptance Test
6.3 Installation and Commissioning
6.4 Site Acceptance Test
7 Operations and Maintenance
7.1 Structured Management Systems
7.2 Operations
7.3 Testing
7.4 Maintenance
7.5 Lessons Learnt
8 Competence and Training
8.1 Critical Activities and Competence Scheme
8.2 Suggested Competence Standards
9 Risk Assessment
9.1 Cargo Hazards
9.2 Top Events
9.3 Consequences
9.4 Risk Tolerability
9.5 Initiating Events
9.6 Barriers
9.7 Frequency Modifiers
9.8 Risk Reduction of the Emergency Release System
9.9 Spurious Failure of the Emergency Release System
9.10 Example Risk Assessment for the Cargo Transfer System of an Onshore LNG Terminal
9.11 Example Risk Assessment for the High-Pressure Gas Transfer System of an FSRU
Annexes
Annex 1 – Integrity Life-Cycle Management Flow Chart
Annex 2 – Functional Safety and IEC Approach
Annex 3 – Legend for Tables 2 to 5 – Suggested Spurious Failure Modes
Annex 4 – Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
Annex 5 – Reference List

Additional Information

Number of Pages: 110
Published Date: October 2026

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